European Parliament News

Lates news and information from the European Parliament.

MEPs veto alertness claims for energy drinks — 12 July 2016, 00:09 CET

Euro-MPs voted on Thursday to veto European Commission plans to allow claims that sugary drinks and energy drinks containing caffeine boost 'alertness' or 'concentration'.

Euro-Parliament gives green light to emission curbs for off-road machinery — 07 July 2016, 12:22 CET

Euro-MPs backed Wednesday plans to update EU type approval rules and emission limits for internal combustion engines in non-road mobile machinery such as lawn mowers, bulldozers and diesel locomotives.

MEPs call for more ambitious A-G scale for energy labels — 07 July 2016, 12:24 CET

The EU Parliament voted Wednesday for a simpler and more stringent A to G scale for energy labels showing the energy efficiency of household appliances to keep pace with technological progress.

'Rats fleeing a sinking ship' - MEPs denounce Brexit campaigners — 06 July 2016, 12:22 CET

Brexit campaigners in the UK referendum came in for strong criticism in a European Parliament debate on last week's summit. However, many MEPs said the people should be listened to and reform was needed.

EU Parliament calls for swift UK exit — 28 June 2016, 17:20 CET

In a heated debate over the result of the UK's referendum on EU membership, MEPs called for a swift exit for the UK, by officially withdrawing from the EU before any new relationship arrangements can be made.

MEPs vote in new rules on property settlement in divorces — 23 June 2016, 22:36 CET

MEPs approved Thursday new rules for deciding which country’s courts should settle property disputes in divorce or death cases involving international couples or registered partnerships.

MEPs step up fight against tax evasion and tax havens — 23 June 2016, 01:26 CET

MEPs on a special committee on tax rulings set up by the European Parliament produced a raft of tough measures Tuesday designed to make corporate taxation 'fairer and clearer'.

MEPs back external border check for all EU citizens — 21 June 2016, 16:20 CET

MEPs in committee have backed an EU plan to systematically check all EU citizens entering or leaving the EU, responding to the rise in terrorist threats such as the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.

MEPs want to veto energy drink "alertness" claims — 17 June 2016, 17:53 CET

Sugary drinks and energy drinks containing caffeine should not display claims that they can help increase alertness or concentration, an EU Parliament committee said on Thursday.

EU-US 'Privacy Shield' data deal needs improvement, say MEPs — 26 May 2016, 17:55 CET

The European Parliament urged the EU Commission Thursday to go on negotiating with the United States over the proposed 'Privacy Shield' protection for EU citizens’ data transferred to the US for commercial purposes.

MEPs vote against market economy status for China — 13 May 2016, 15:49 CET

EU Parliament members voted against dumping and the granting of market economy status (MES) to China Thursday. This is seen as an important signal that the EU will not grant MES so long as China fails to meet its WTO obligations.

Euro-MPs approve new powers for Europol — 12 May 2016, 12:27 CET

New governance rules approved by Euro-MPs on Wednesday will enable the EU police agency Europol to step up efforts to fight terrorism, cybercrime and other criminal offences, as well as respond faster to threats.

MEPs demand halt to Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline — 11 May 2016, 14:45 CET

Nord Stream 2, the Russia to Europe gas pipeline project, came under attack from the European Parliament Tuesday, with many MEPs demanding a halt to the project altogether.

Overview: the European Parliament's work on taxation — 06 May 2016, 11:53 CET

The fight for fair taxation in the EU was high on the European Parliament's agenda long before LuxLeaks and the Panama papers. Since the start of the economic and financial crisis, MEPs have been pushing for greater transparency and an end to tax unfair practices. Read on for an overview of Parliament initiatives.

The European Union Should Thank the United Kingdom for the 'Brexit' Threat — 28 April 2016, 18:10 CET

The European Union must face another big threat in very short period of time. There is another item on the threats list – Brexit – the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, one of the three biggest member states, from the European Union. This threat is beginning to have very realistic shape when some top British politicians, for example Boris Johnson, very popular mayor of London, or Mick Jagger, the front man of Rolling Stones, take sides with the sympathizers of the withdrawal.

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 8-12 April 2024 — 11 April 2024, 23:48 CET

Discharge: MEPs sign off EU budget for 2022 - MEPs approve reforms for a more sustainable and resilient EU gas market - Women must have full control of their sexual and reproductive health and rights - Parliament adopts reform of the EU electricity market - Soil health: Parliament sets out measures to achieve healthy soils by 2050 - "Parliament 2024": a more modern and efficient Parliament after the elections - New EU rules to improve urban wastewater treatment and reuse - Carbon removals: MEPs adopt a new EU certification scheme - Child sexual abuse online: current rules extended until April 2026 - MEPs adopt stricter CO2 emissions targets for trucks and buses - MEPs approve the new Migration and Asylum Pact - Breakfast foods: Parliament adopts new rules to improve consumer information - Methane: Parliament adopts new law to reduce emissions from energy sector - His Majesty King Philippe: "Europe and the world are in dire need of hope" - Deal on trade support for Ukraine with more protection for EU farmers - EU job seekers' aid worth €1.9 million for 390 dismissed workers in Denmark

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 11-15 March 2024 — 15 March 2024, 00:05 CET

Human rights breaches in Afghanistan and Venezuela - Court of Auditors: European Parliament endorses new Italian member - Deal on making firearms import and export more transparent to fight trafficking - MEPs agree to extend trade support for Moldova, continue work on Ukraine - Euro 7: Parliament adopts measures to reduce road transport emissions - Media Freedom Act: a new bill to protect EU journalists and press freedom - MEPs call for tougher EU rules to reduce textiles and food waste - Parliament adopts its position on major reform of EU Customs Code - Legal migration: MEPs endorse beefed-up single residence and work permit rules - Parliament backs tighter EU rules for toy safety - Artificial Intelligence Act: MEPs adopt landmark law - Road safety: deal on more robust investigations of traffic offences - International Women's Day: Give girls role models to overcome obstacles - Cyber Resilience Act: MEPs adopt plans to boost security of digital products - Energy efficiency of buildings: MEPs adopt plans to decarbonise the sector - Defective products: revamped rules to better protect consumers from damages - Parliament wants to improve consumer protection against misleading claims

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 4-8 March 2024 — 07 March 2024, 23:38 CET

First go-ahead to renewing trade support for Ukraine and Moldova - Single European Sky: deal on better management of European airspace - International Women's Day 2024: Parliament looks at gender equality in sports - Deal on EU ban on products made with forced labour - Deal on new rules for more sustainable packaging in the EU - International Women's Day: Women in sport - MEPs: EU must actively support Russia's democratic opposition - MEPs back plans for an EU-wide digital wallet - Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia - Parliament backs deeper political and economic ties with Chile - Parliament adopts plan to protect the EU energy market from manipulation - New rules for a responsible and transparent short-term rental sector - Nature restoration: taking better care of habitats in the EU - MEPs back updates to EU rules on driving licences to improve road safety

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 26 February-1 March 2024 — 29 February 2024, 23:29 CET

MEPs: EU must actively support Russia's democratic opposition - MEPs back plans for an EU-wide digital wallet - Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia - Parliament backs deeper political and economic ties with Chile - Parliament adopts plan to protect the EU energy market from manipulation - New rules for a responsible and transparent short-term rental sector - Nature restoration: taking better care of habitats in the EU - Foreign policy, security and defence: the EU should focus on strategic alliances - Parliament calls for action against the erosion of EU values in member states - European Parliament signs agreements with the Committee of Regions and the European Investment Bank - MEPs back updates to EU rules on driving licences to improve road - MEPs improve EU protection for quality agricultural products - Yulia Navalnaya: "If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang" - Waste shipments: MEPs adopt tougher EU rules - Parliament approves key budgetary support for Ukraine and the EU - Environmental crimes: MEPs adopt extended list of offences and sanctions

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 18-22 March 2024 — 22 March 2024, 01:11 CET

Metsola at the European Council: This election will be the test of our systems - Olaf Scholz: "We need a geopolitical, larger, reformed EU" - Food waste reduction: what EU actions are there? - Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers - EU pharmaceutical policy: MEPs support comprehensive reform - National winners of the 2024 European Charlemagne Youth Prize - First green light to new bill on firms' impact on human rights and environment - Platform Work: first green light to new EU rules on employment status - Foreign Affairs Committee and EU ministers debate enlargement - EU Health Data Space to support patients and research - Human rights breaches in Afghanistan and Venezuela - Court of Auditors: European Parliament endorses new Italian member - Deal on making firearms import and export more transparent to fight trafficking - MEPs agree to extend trade support for Moldova, continue work on Ukraine - Euro 7: Parliament adopts measures to reduce road transport emissions - Media Freedom Act: a new bill to protect EU journalists and press freedom

MEPs back restrictions on glyphosate herbicide — 14 April 2016, 17:30 CET

Members of the European Parliament called Wednesday for a ban on all uses of glyphosate-based herbicides in private and public green areas, including spraying in and around public parks, playgrounds and gardens.

EU needs Luxembourg's negotiating skills — 09 July 2015, 22:45 CET

2015 is a special year for EU presidencies: first Latvia - land of my grandparents - now Luxembourg - land of my youth - which took over on 1 July. It is also possibly one of the EU's most challenging years for presidencies.

Transmissible animal diseases: informal deal — 04 June 2015, 13:39 CET

Measures to prevent and treat animal diseases such as avian flu or African swine fever were informally agreed by MEPs, the EU's Latvian Presidency and the European Commission on1 June. The draft EU law, on diseases that are transmissible among animals and potentially to humans too, will merge and update many scattered items of old legislation, so as to help prevent and halt new outbreaks and keep pace with scientific progress.

Jobs, car safety, biofuels and plastic bags - all in a day's work at the European Parliament — 30 April 2015, 22:29 CET

Who says Euro-MPs don't do much or what they do has little relation to, or impact on, real life? Certainly nobody who attended their plenary session in Strasbourg this week, where their agenda was full with a number of important issues that affect us all.

EU Transparency website — 27 January 2015, 15:38 CET

Citizens expect the EU decision-making process to be as transparent and open as possible. The more open the process is, the easier it is to ensure balanced representation and avoid undue pressure and illegitimate or privileged access to information or to decision-makers. Transparency is also a key part of encouraging European citizens to participate more actively in the democratic life of the EU. The transparency register has been set up to answer core questions such as what interests are being pursued, by whom and with what budgets. The system is operated jointly by the European Parliament and the European Commission.